Consider your ways!
You have sown much, but have brought in little;
you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated;
have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed;
And whoever earned wages
earned them for a bag with holes in it. (Hg 1:5b-6)
It is amazing, is it not, that we can do so much and yet see so very little for it.
Haggai said it perfectly when he spoke about sowing much but reaping little, eating much but not being satisfied, drinking without effect, et cetera.
Can we produce much, eat well, drink liberally, clothe ourselves luxuriously, earn oodles of money and still be in want?
Positively!
When we do things solely for ourselves, we find little reward. Oh, sure, in the short term we might be the happiest people in the world. However, in the long term, we can and will find ourselves miserable.
That is because we were fashioned to be social creatures and we were fashioned with a conscience.
We realize, in our heart of hearts, that we are supposed to be doing for others and not just for ourselves.
That is why the richest person in the world can be the most impoverished or the most popular person in the world can be the loneliest. That is the cost of doing things only for self. We pay a heavy price.
When we do, we should be doing for the Lord.
When we sow, we should share what we reap. When we eat, we should make sure that hungry are also provided for. When we clothe ourselves, we should be mindful of those who have nothing to wear but the tattered garments on their backs.
Seeing — and providing for — the needs of others is the ultimate way to become fulfilled.
FAITH ACTION: Consider your ways for today. Are you going to do things for yourself? or for others?